Self‐concept clarity and the evaluation and selection of incompatible dating partners

IF 1.8 4区心理学 Q2 COMMUNICATION

PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS Pub Date : 2024-09-06 DOI:10.1111/pere.12570

Katya F. Kredl, Dita Kubin, John E. Lydon

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Romantic compatibility is theorized to play a crucial role in the success and stability of romantic relationships, although evidence to date has been somewhat indirect. Previous experimental findings suggest that those lower, relative to higher, in self‐concept clarity find it more challenging to evaluate similarity (i.e., a contributor to compatibility) in prospective romantic partners. The current research extends these findings by directly examining self‐concept clarity and romantic partner (in)compatibility in real‐world experiences. Across two retrospective studies (N = 340), we found that those lower, relative to higher, in self‐concept clarity dated incompatible others more frequently, experienced greater difficulty judging compatibility, and were less decisive in their dating decisions. They also experienced greater dating‐related negative affect but did not report lower satisfaction in past dating. Exploratory mediation analyses further suggest that such individuals experienced greater dating‐related negative affect through dating incompatible others more often. Specifically, they were more likely to date incompatible others if they found it harder to judge compatibility and were less decisive in dating. These results suggest that individuals with a confused personal identity (i.e., low in self‐concept clarity) may find it more challenging to evaluate potential dating partners, leading them to rule out incompatible ones less often.

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自我概念的清晰度与不相容约会对象的评估和选择

根据理论，浪漫关系的兼容性对浪漫关系的成功和稳定起着至关重要的作用，尽管迄今为止的证据还有些间接。以前的实验结果表明，相对于自我概念清晰度较高的人来说，自我概念清晰度较低的人在评估未来恋爱伴侣的相似性（即兼容性的一个因素）方面更具挑战性。目前的研究直接考察了现实世界中自我概念清晰度和恋爱伴侣（不）兼容性，从而扩展了这些发现。在两项回顾性研究（N = 340）中，我们发现自我概念清晰度较低的人比较高的人更频繁地与不相容的人约会，在判断相容性方面遇到更大的困难，在约会决定中也不那么果断。他们还经历了更多与约会相关的消极情绪，但对过去约会的满意度并不低。探索性中介分析进一步表明，这类人更频繁地与不相容的人约会，从而体验到更多与约会相关的负面情绪。具体地说，如果他们发现自己在约会时更难判断对方是否与自己相容，也更不果断，那么他们就更有可能与不相容的人约会。这些结果表明，个人身份认同混乱（即自我概念清晰度低）的人可能会发现评估潜在约会对象更具挑战性，从而导致他们较少排除不相容的对象。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS Multiple-

CiteScore

2.40

自引率

6.20%

发文量

期刊介绍： Personal Relationships, first published in 1994, is an international, interdisciplinary journal that promotes scholarship in the field of personal relationships using a wide variety of methodologies and throughout a broad range of disciplines, including psychology, sociology, communication studies, anthropology, family studies, child development, social work, and gerontology. The subject matter and approach of Personal Relationships will be of interest to researchers, teachers, and practitioners. Manuscripts examining a wide range of personal relationships, including those between romantic or intimate partners, spouses, parents and children, siblings, classmates, coworkers, neighbors, and friends are welcome.